Recommended Literature

Here you will find our small selection of recommended literature. Keeping to tradition, everything is free and may be redistributed freely. Links to more Buddhist literature can be found under the “Dhamma Texts” section of our Dhamma-links page.

Issues Through The Moss

The book that you are now going to read is the the story of the Dhamma practice of a female Buddhist from Norway. She started to practice after having experienced extreme suffering in her life. She did not give up, but fought with patience, energy and endurance. With firm resolution, she investigated thoroughly, using the full force of vigilance in order to find the cause of this suffering, until the heart finally found the Buddha Truth in all phenomena. This
resulted in freedom from the power of suffering. It gave her energy to endure, to live at ease, and be free from danger in the midst of “the Stream of the World”, which is full of suffering. This happened before she had learned of the Buddhist Religion.

Tranquillity and Insight

This is a Dhamma talk given by Ajahn Chah where he explains the basics of Breath Meditation. It was originally published in “The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah”.

“Normally the mind isn’t still, it’s moving all the time. We must make an effort to strengthen the mind. Making the mind strong and making the body strong are not the same. To make the body strong we have to exercise it, to push it, but to make the mind strong means to make it peaceful, not to go thinking of this and that. For most of us the mind has never been peaceful, it has never had the energy of samadhi; so we must establish it within a boundary. We sit in meditation, staying with the ‘one who knows’.”

Stillness Flowing –
The Life and Teachings of Ajahn Chah

This important work details the life and teachings of Luang Por Chah, also known as Ajahn Chah, and has been in the making for over two decades. This biography is based on the 1993 Thai biography of Luang Por Chah entitled ‘Upalamani’ which was also authored by Ajahn Jayasaro. It includes translations from ‘Upalamani,’ in particular many of the anecdotes and reminiscences of Luang Por’s disciples, as well as a significant amount of social, cultural, historical and doctrinal information to provide context to an audience that may be unfamiliar with Thai culture and its Buddhist heritage.

Marananussati – Keeping the End in Mind by Tan Ajahn Anan Akincano

This is an abridged version of a farewell Dhamma desana delivered by Venerable Ajahn Anan at Wat Fah Krahm (Cittabhavanaram), Lamlukka, Patum Thani, in November 1984 (2527 BE) as he prepared to depart to continue his practice in Rayong Province at what would later become his present day residence of Wat Marp Jan. In the course of this talk, Ajahn Anan offers the details of his practice as a gift of Dhamma to gladden and inspire all those who had provided support during the years he spent practicing at Wat Fah Krahm.

Samadhi For Liberation by Tan Ajahn Anand Akincano

In the beginning practising samadhi is difficult. If one has samadhi, but then encounters, with negative mind-states, the samadhi disappears. So one has to reflect more. Having reflected a lot, the samadhi is gone even more. The power of mind is not strong enough. That’s how it is. One becomes tired both with focusing and investigating. But, please be patient. If one experiences dukkha in the present, one will experience sukha as result. One has to be patient, keep being patient and one will receive the fruits later on.